Corn-planter.



N. 879,398- PTENTBD FEBLlB, 1908 M. MITCHELL. CORN PLANTER. APPLIOATION FILED P21114, 1907.

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' No. 879,398, PATENTED PEB. 18, `1908. M. MITCHELL. CORN PLANTER. APPLIGATIQN FILED FEB.14. 1907.

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MELVIN MITCHELL, OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS.

CORN-PLANTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 18, 1908.

Application filed Februar" 14. 1907. Serial No. 357.279.

T o all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MELVIN ).flironnLL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Peoria, in the countyof Peoria and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Corn-Planters, oll which the following is a specification.

This 1invention relates to corn planters of the single delivery type and embodies in its or' anization a seed receptacle or hopper provi ed with a dropper tube or spout containing a rotary dropper mechanism by which the grains or kernels are l'cd in single order from the receptacle intoy the tube to be discharged through the latter into the' ground as usual in devices of this character, and. as disclosed in Patent No. 763,308, granted to me June 21, 1904, and on which the present device is an improvement. Y

In the form of device in question the dropper mechanism which rotates in a vertical, as distinguished from a horizontal, plane comprises as a whole a clutch member or disk connected for operation directly from the drive shaft, a rotary feed ring or annulus provided-with seed receiving cells or pockets and a stationary member or ring over which the feed ring rotates, there being provided for coperatlon with the feed ring a cut-of member or finger by means of which surplus kernels are prevented when entering the cells from passing under the cut-oif, At this 'oint it may be mentioned thatit is a, well own fact that while the grains or kernels of corn vary widely in length and width there is practically little or no variation in their thickness and that in consequence With the style ofY plantersknown as edge drop and to which my invention appertains, the matter of thickness of the kernels causes little or no difficulty in handling the corn, Whereas on the` other hand and owing to the variations in the length and Width of' the kernels, considerable difficulty is experil ericed as a result of two kernels of small size entering one of the cells and passing beneath the cut-off. Attempts have been made to overcome this objection by the cmployment of graders which sort the corn according to size of the kernels prior to planting, it' being evident, however, that this grading of the material entails considerable expense.-

This invention has for its objects to provide a comparatively simple, inexpensive dropper mechamsm.wherein,the kernels will be received edgewise into the cells and delivered one at a time into the dropper tube, one wherein the individual cells will readily accommodate kernels of varying sizes and one wherein thel cut-off mechanism will, in the event of more than one kernel entering a cell, positively remove the surplus kernel or kernels from such cell prior to its passage beneath the cut-olf, thus eiiectually preventing the cells carrying more than one kernel each beneath the cut-off, thereby insuring proper single delivery of the corn and at the same time obviating the necessity for grading or sorting the corn prior to planting.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a dropper mechanism wherein the grains or kernels will escape l'reely from the cell at the point of delivery into the dropper tube, one in which the surplus grainsI will, without injury,'be removed from the cells,

dropper ring is positively prevented.

1V ith these and other objects in View, the invent1on comprises the novel features of construction and combination of parts more .fully hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 -is a side elevation of the casing containing the dropping mechanism. Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical, longitudinal section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and showing the dropper mechair isrn. Fig. 4 is a verticalftransverse section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail View of'a portion ot the dropper ring. Fi. 6 is a detail cross section taken on the line 6 6 of F ig. 5". Fig. 7 is a similar view, taken on the line 7M? of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the cut-oil' member or finger. Fig. t) is a perspective view of the clutch ring or annulus. Fig. 1() is a rear elevation of the dropper ring. Fig. 11 is a side elevation of the clutch wheel. Figs. 12 and 13are detail sectional views taken through the dropper mechanism and showing the parts assembled. Fig. 14 is a detail, sectional View taken through the casing on the line 14-1.4.of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the dropper casing or cup, which forms the lower portion or section of the seed box or receptacle, not'shown, and is provided at its upper end with a iiange 2 to sup port the latter, there being formed in the upper portion of .the casing a downwardly inclined wall 3,

', which constitutes the bottom of the recepand one wherein retrograde rotation of the tacle and is provided with an opening or slot 4 through which the grain passes to the dropper mechanism, hereinafter described, and thence to a dropper tube or duct 5 leading from the lower end of the casing, which is provided at its rear edge with a discharge passage 6 normally closed at its. lower end y means of a cap 7 and through which the box may be emptied, while formed in Athe easing, which has a central, tubular bearing hub 8 is a concentric annular 'bearing wall 9 constituting a stationary ring on which the rotary dropper mechanism travels, as hereinafter explained. The wall 9 is cut away throughout a portion of its circumference to form a feed opening 10 leading into the upper end of a branch feed passage l1 which communicates at its lower end with the dropper.

tube 5, as seen more clearly in Fig. ,14.

J ournaled in the hub 8 is a bearing sleeve 12 through which is extended a non-circular rotary operating shaft 13 adapted to be driven in any suitable manner and on which is fixed a clutch wheel 14 retained in place' by means of a cap 15 in turn secured through the, medlum of a ,set screw 16, there bemg providedip the rim of the wheel 14 a plurality of notches or seats 17 arranged at equidistantly space-d intervals, as seen in I*l ig. 11. Arranged for travel on the stationary,bea1.

ing ring 9 is arotary dropperririg ljpio-y vided on its front side face with alseries of laterally proj ectirig lugs or protubcrances 19 spaced as shown to formA interveninglgrain receiving cells or pockets 20 andhaving their end faces' 20 which constitute the end walls Iof the cells pitched at a downward'and inward inclination, thus to provide the cells with restricted entrance openings and enlarged outlet openings, while formed on the rear face of the ring 18 is a pair of opposed, transversely projecting engaging lugs 21 adapted to seat in a pair of the recesses 17 for locking the dropper ring to and for rotaJ tion with the `clutch wheel, there-being also formed in theorear face of the dropper ring and at points at right angles to the lugs 21 la pair of recesses 22, which, when the parts are assembled, register with the otherpair of recesses 17 to receive conjointly therewith, inward, radially projecting engaging lugs 23 formed on a clutch ring 24 which fits on the clutch wheel 14and is, by means of the lugs 23 locked. for rotation therewith and with the ring 18. It is to be-noted in this connection that the ring .Z2-l which is of conical, tapered form, constitutes in ell'ect the rim of the wheel 14 and is so disposed as to form an in clined bottom for the slot 4 to direct the grain downward toward .the cells or pockets 20. t

ljivoted in the casing 1 at the forward end ofthe slot 4 is a eut-oill mcmlwror linger 2'5 dsposed to travel at its lower end on the` periphery of the droppcr ring 1S and pressed to active position by. means of an expanded spring 26, there being formed on the active end of 'the finger an engaging portion or tip 27 having its inner face beveled or inclined,

while the lugs 19 are provided. at their outer, 70

marginal edges and at their forward sides with correspondingly beveled or inclined faces 28 over which .the portion or tip 27 rides, for a purpose which will presently appear. 1 at a point beneath the cutoff finger 25 a There is also'pivoted in the casing 75 knocker member or dog 29 pressed to active position by means of a spring 30 and adapted to ride at its lower end over and be osclllated by the lugs 19, said dogs serving not only to knock the grains out of the pockets 20 but also through engagement with the lugs 19 to prevent retrograde rotation of the ring 18.

In practice, during operation of the shaft 13, the clutch wheel 14 will. rotate therewith 85 the size of the cells is such that they will freely accommodate grains which vary in length and width. As the cells pass beneath the cut-off member 25 surplus grains -whieh may lodge upon the top of the grains within the cells will be pushed aside by the cut-off member, the action of which in this respect is facilitated. \and perfected owing to the provision of th'e beveled tip 27, which in passing over the inclined faces 28 travels within the area of the cells. It is to be particularly noted in this connection that owing,- to the peculiar construction of the cut-0E and formation of the lugs 19 the liability of morethan one kernel entering. each individual` cell and being carried thereby beneath the`cut-off is prevented, while at the same time the necessity for sorting or grading the material is obviated. After passing beneath the cut-off the grains will fall from the ilo cells into the auxiliary )assage 11 and travel i 1. In a device of the 'class described, a

casing, an operating shaft extended therethrough, a clutch wheel fixed on and for rotation with the' shaft, a dropper ring fixed for movement with theclutch wheel, said ring being provided with a plurality of spacedv lugs presenting intervening cells and a cut- O rnember mounted in tlie casing andadapted to ride over said dropper ring, said member being provided with a :beveled engaging portion end the lugs having correspondmglyT beveled races over which seidportlon travels.

` 2. Ine device of the class described, a casing having a fixed -annular'beering Wall end provided with a tnbnlar liub,'en operating shaft-journaled in said heb, a clutch Wheel fixed for 'rotation with the shaft, a dropper ring arranged to travel cn seid Well and con- A nected formovement with the clutch Wheel,

eai'dring being provided with a, plurality of spaced lugs forming intevening cells and the outer edges of tne lugs being beveled, and a cut-0H member Sustained in the casing to vbear on the periphery ot the dropper ring and having beveled engaging portion to travel onth beveled feces of the lugs. '1

3. ln e device of the lese described, a cesing having a feed opening provided with an annular bearing Well and with :i tubulin hub,

an operating slie'ft journaled Afor rotation in ,said hub, a clutch wheel i'ixed for rotationl With'the shaft, a clutch ring carried by said Wheel, a dropper ring arranged for travel en said bearing Well and connected for movement with the first named ring and Wheel, a series of spaced lugs'provided en the dropper ringv4 and forming intervening grain reciving cells, the outer edges of the lugs being beveled, and a clit-oil" nger disposed to cells into the branch duct. i 1 In testimony-whereof, I affix my signature Yin presence' of two Witnesses.

MELVIN MITCHELL." s

the shaft, e dropper ring arranged for travel' on the bearing Well `end connectedfor movement with the clutch wheel,- aseries of spaced 1n a device ofthe class described, e 'cas- -c utch Wheel fixed on and for rotetionl with.

lugs provided on the ring and forming in- A tervening grain receiving cells, the lugs being formed'to provide the cells with re stricted ent-rence o enings and enlarged discasing to bear on' the periphery of the rin end having e beveled engaging tip dispose to travelon the inclined faces of the -lugs,

and a knocker mem/ber pivoted in the casing chargeopenings en lhaving their outer edges beveled, a cut-GH memberarranged in the i in position to discharge the grains from thel Y Witnesses:

L', E. LAWRENCE,

GRAFTON. 

